South Zone Snubs BCCI, Excludes Contracted Players From Duleep Trophy Squad: Report

South Zone Snubs BCCI, Excludes Contracted Players From Duleep Trophy Squad: Report

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Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 16:31 IST

South Zone selectors have excluded KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj and others from Duleep Trophy team.

KL Rahul is expected to be seen next in the Test series against Windies (Picture credit: AFP)

The South Zone selectors have defied the BCCI and have excluded contracted stars from the Duleep Trophy squad, fuelling the fire that was ignited when the board asked all the zones to keep contracted cricketers in their squad for the upcoming domestic tournament, according to a report in Cricbuzz.

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Star India cricketers KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Sai Sudharsan and Prasidh Krishna, who are already missing from the team, might not be included for the inter-zonal red-ball championship.

The BCCI had sent its advisory to state associations via email last month, but South Zone officials have opted not to follow it.

According to the report, sources from the South Zone have made it clear that, for now, they are sticking with the team announced on July 26. Tilak Varma, the skipper, is the only contracted cricketer in the team.

South Zone officials maintain that national selectors should not be involved in choosing zonal teams and suggest that, if needed, the BCCI should mandate Ranji Trophy participation for contracted cricketers instead.

The selectors argue that top Indian players can be accommodated in India A games instead.

“Kerala qualified for the Ranji Trophy final (for the first time in the competition’s history of 90 editions) and lost it narrowly. They had a remarkable season and their players deserved selection for the Duleep Trophy," a South Zone official was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

The 15-member team features four cricketers from Kerala, three from Hyderabad, two each from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and one apiece from Pondicherry and Goa.

During the selection meeting, it was resolved to field only domestic performers for the multi-day tournament and the decision was noted in the committee’s minutes.

Runners-up in the previous edition, the South Zone have bagged a direct berth in the semifinals, starting September 4.

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First Published: August 23, 2025, 16:31 IST

News cricket South Zone Snubs BCCI, Excludes Contracted Players From Duleep Trophy Squad: Report

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